Integrating Women into the Leadership of Christian Missions Agency

Abstract

Christian Missions Agency is an organised body of Christians that are making efforts to propagate Christianity among those who have not come into contact with the faith. Christian mission activities need a diversity of thinking and experience in a leadership team. Missions’ agencies also need leadership that meets a new set of societal needs and circumstances. One easy and obvious step toward diversity in such a body is incorporating women into all levels of the organisational leadership matrix, particularly in the top leadership positions. This paper is not to be construed as a campaign against male leadership; instead, it seeks to increase the equal representation of women and men as part of the mission work teams and within the leadership of a Christian missions organisation. There is a need to create a space for all voices to be heard since all are created equal in the sight of God. An effective mission organisation needs to view women and men as equal contributors to the kingdom’s growth and to general social progress. It also aims to encourage women to take on different roles and ensure their skills do not go unnoticed in broader society. Leadership in missions should not in any way be gender-biased. Organisations that do not intentionally create a space for women with leadership gifts to be able to use their gifts for the good of all, will ultimately lose those women’s valuable contributions. Some of the reasons commonly cited to explain why women, either married or single, cannot be considered on the same footing as their male counterparts are unwarranted. These are inter alia gender barriers that hinder them, identity challenges, and a perception that a woman is primarily responsible for only family care and thus gains cultural acceptability. The paper concludes with suggested ways of integrating women into leadership of Christian missions as a critically important addition to them.